Leonid Pokrytyuk, a dedicated volunteer at the “Everyone Can Help” Volunteer Center and an expert with the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe, orchestrated a delightful outing into the wilderness for children, aimed at acquainting them with the intricate forest ecosystem. The participants embarked on a journey through the lush woods near Berehovo, where they eagerly searched for mushrooms and berries, identified various herbs, shrubs, and trees, and closely observed the birds, insects, and other inhabitants of the forest.
Despite the warm and dry weather that characterized September, many mushroom species had yet to make their appearance in the forest. As a result, the expeditionaries encountered a limited variety of fungi, including Russula violacea, Xerocomus, Armillaria mellea, (Lycoperdon), and several beneficial Polyporaceae species: Fistulina hepatica, Laetiporus sulphureus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Polyporus squamous. The young nature lovers were fortunate enough to come across ripe chestnuts, a seasonal treat in the Transcarpathian woodlands at that time, to make up for the lack of mushrooms. Additionally, the group had a remarkable encounter with the European stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), a rare species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
The unexpected and highly emotional highlight of the trip was an encounter with one of Europe’s largest snakes, the Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus). In Ukraine, these snakes can grow to an impressive length of 2.8 meters, but the one they came across measured approximately 1.3 meters. Initially, the children understandably felt apprehensive about the snake’s presence. However, Leonid Pokrytyuk reassured them that it was a non-venomous and endangered species, urging them not to harm it. The group wisely moved to a safe distance, allowing them to simply observe the magnificent creature in its natural habitat. In conclusion, this nature expedition provided both adults and children with a unique opportunity to witness the diverse biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. It also imparted valuable lessons about the significance of every living being, no matter how small, in contributing to the essential functions of the forest.
The event was held with the participation of IDP children in the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Informational Service of IRCEF
Інформаційна служба IRCEF
